What to Know About Surgery for Brain Tumors

Surgery is usually the first step in treating a brain tumor. For this treatment, you see a doctor who specializes in surgery on the brain or nerves, called a neurosurgeon. To remove a brain tumor, a neurosurgeon will cut a hole in your skull. It is like making a small window in the skull. This surgery is called a craniotomy.

The surgeon tries to take out the whole tumor when possible.

If the surgeon cannot remove all of the tumor without damaging the brain, he or she will take out as much as possible. This is called debulking surgery. Reducing the size of a tumor through surgery can help relieve pressure on the brain. It can also reduce the amount of follow-up radiation, with or without chemotherapy, you will need.

In areas that are difficult to operate in, the surgeon may use a laser to kill cancer cells.

After surgery, you may need radiation to kill cancer cells that are left. You may also need chemotherapy.